We are home to ParentNet, a face-to-face family engagement program for parents of children in grades Pre-K to 12. Get quick facts about the program at ParentNet® At-a-Glance.
ParentNet® Unplugged offers an online opportunity for frank conversations about family engagement. Please meet our bloggers and engage them in dialogue! Want to keep up with the conversation? Subscribe to new articles by email below.
» How to Revitalize Your School-Parent Compact, Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D.
» How Do You Know if You're Really Open to Partnership, Anne Henderson & Karen Mapp
»PTA--Gateway to Engagement, Advocacy, and Access, Meryl Ain, Ed.D.
» The Power of Asking-Instead of Telling, Jody McVittie, M.D.
» Empathy in Action, Rick Ackerly, Ed.M.
We have the only bookstore on the web that highlights the field of family engagement! Check out our current Editor’s Picks and browse books on 1) Engaging Parents, 2) Building Partnerships, and 3) Leading Culture Change in Schools. Order from our site to support our mission!
Looking for consultants, parent educators, trainers, organization development specialists, parent coaches, or speakers who work in the field of family engagement? Check out our Consultant Directory or submit a free listing!
4 Ways Divorced Parents Foster Children's School Success
By Scott Morgan, J.D. [Guest Article]
Although the repercussions of a divorce are never joyful for either of the parties involved, it's particularly difficult when there are children in the picture. A divorce can be detrimental to a child's life, no matter the age. Having the security and stability of their home life taken away often affects children in negative ways. One significant area that divorce impacts children is in their school performance. Parents can mitigate these effects in four big ways!
Divorce Effects on a Child's Education
According to "Divorce's Toll on Children" by Karl Zinsmeister, children who experience parental divorce are twice as likely to repeat a grade and five times more likely to be suspended or even expelled from school. They are typically less imaginative, more dependent, and disobedient. Schools have an increasingly hard time trying to deal with the social and psychological issues of children of divorce in the classroom. Sadly, a study conducted by the National Survey of Children concluded that 15% of children who live with their mothers and have little to no contact with their fathers were either suspended or expelled from school.
There is also the case in which teachers and faculty members blame a child's learning difficulties on his or her home issues, when there could be several learning disabilities going undiagnosed, such as dyslexia. As a result, these children become candidates for drop outs, as their life becomes increasingly difficult when adding the stress of a home life to an already existing problem. These students are more likely to fall behind and have a severe loss of self-esteem and consequently suffer from a loss of motivation and depression.
Divorce Impact on Younger Children
Most psychologists believe that children that experience their parents' divorce anywhere in the elementary to middle school age are the ones that are affected the most, since they are old enough to understand what is happening but are too young to understand how to control the emotions associated with it. They may experience grief, embarrassment, loneliness, resentment, and bursts of intense anger, causing their ability to stay focused in school or to interact with their peers to be strongly affected.
Adolescents who are affected by a divorce are likely to experience many of the same emotional issues as elementary or middle school children but despite their developed ability to cope with their feelings, they may feel the pressure of added responsibility and as though they are "pushed" into adulthood, causing them to lose interest in their scholastic life. These children are also at a higher risk of becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol as an escape from their difficult lives, directly affecting their school work.
Four Tips for Parents that Foster Success
It's not the actual event of a divorce that negatively affects a child, but rather the dynamics around it. It's the responsibility of the parents to help their child maintain a positive attitude and to let them know that they are still supported, even despite a change as monumental as a divorce can be. Follow these tips to give your child the best chance of thriving through divorce:
- Stay Involved - When you are not in possession of your child make an effort to call frequently and send emails and text messages. Ask them about what is going on in their life. The more involved you are the more they will feel like they are important to you, even though the family dynamic has changed.
- Don't Disparage Your Ex - When your child is within earshot don't say anything negative about the other parent. When you say unkind things about your ex the child either has to defend your ex or take your side. Either way it is unfair to your child.
- Get Along With Your Ex - Kids whose divorced parents argue over parenting issues often feel as though they have done something wrong and caused the argument. Discuss all issues about your child with your ex like a mature adult.
- Encourage Your Child's Relationship With Your Ex - Understand that a child who has a healthy relationship with both parents is much better off than the many less fortunate children who have only one involved parent. Support your child's relationship with your ex and encourage them to enjoy their time with the other parent.
Posted on March 6, 2012 by Scott Morgan, J.D. [Guest Article]
Scott Morgan is a board certified Austin divorce lawyer who regularly blogs on the subject of divorce and family law. You can read his blog at AustinDivorceSpecialist.com.
Additional Information about our Bloggers
(ParentInvolvementMatters.org does not handle reprint requests. For permission to reprint articles, please contact the author directly.)
Permalink
Comments
(0) 
Send
to a Friend
Archives
